I'm still a baby when it comes to photoshop 
Thistle's Scribbles and Stories
Thistle Xandra
hmm... i'm not sure. I just used one of the brushes in the 'special effects' drop-down menu in photoshop elements. I have no idea if it's the Rich Anderson brush you're talking about. I couldn't find a name other than the 'special effects' thing I'm still a baby when it comes to photoshop
I'm still a baby when it comes to photoshop
miriforst
Nice work again thistle!
Charlie Dayman
frostkisses
Quote:
Originally Posted by miriforst
OMG! lol thats epic^
Lookin good thistle! Cant wait to see Verene's finished
Lookin good thistle! Cant wait to see Verene's finished
Thistle Xandra
lol miriforst XD
Thanks frost
I'm so behind on all the drawings I want to do, because RL is kicking my butt, but I've got a few more sketches planned and the Wintersday Workshop before I can finish up Verene's WiP D: (sorry, Verene, hope you like the consolation chibi though! :P )
Thanks frost
I'm so behind on all the drawings I want to do, because RL is kicking my butt, but I've got a few more sketches planned and the Wintersday Workshop before I can finish up Verene's WiP D: (sorry, Verene, hope you like the consolation chibi though! :P )
Verene
That's fine! And yes, the chibi is adorable 
<3
<3
Thistle Xandra
ugh... it's been one of those days so I decided to take a break from work and draw! I decided to try Pery's tip of painting in gray-scale I have to admit, it is much easier and faster to paint like that. I think I'll try a couple more and try using layers to add color
Anyway, this is Raven's Mina mesmer character who is a half-vamp Hope you like it!
I have to admit, it is much easier and faster to paint like that. I think I'll try a couple more and try using layers to add color Anyway, this is Raven's Mina mesmer character who is a half-vamp
Hope you like it!
Ravenhawk
Thank you Thistle! I really love this! Huge improvement from your works too. *hughughug*
Yeah she's born a half-vamp but she was completely turned at some point. lol, long story. ^_^
Yeah she's born a half-vamp but she was completely turned at some point. lol, long story. ^_^
InfestedHydralisk
Wow that's pretty sweet!
I personally think that this kind of art is more your style then anime. :P
I personally think that this kind of art is more your style then anime. :P
Chicken of the Seas
Wow! That piece is looking so much different from your other ones, almost like its a different artist. =P But I agree with Infested, it seems to suit you a lot lot better.
Thistle Xandra
{hugs Raven back} I did finish reading what you wrote on her, btw! That's some good stuff!
Hydra and CotS, I'm still trying to figure out my style with the tablet, so I like trying to do drastically different things to learn new techniques, which is why it really seems like my pieces are all over the place and so different D: I'm actually surprised at how well this one came out
When I first started it using the blocking technique, I was just like... wow, this is so going to be fail...
That's some good stuff! Hydra and CotS, I'm still trying to figure out my style with the tablet, so I like trying to do drastically different things to learn new techniques, which is why it really seems like my pieces are all over the place and so different D: I'm actually surprised at how well this one came out
When I first started it using the blocking technique, I was just like... wow, this is so going to be fail...
Perynne
Very nice! Yeah, greyscale is good for learning about shadows and light, since you don't need to fry your brain looking for the right colours. That drawing is looking very different from your usual style, but I like it. It shows a lot of improvement.
Yeah, greyscale is good for learning about shadows and light, since you don't need to fry your brain looking for the right colours. That drawing is looking very different from your usual style, but I like it. It shows a lot of improvement.
Thistle Xandra
Thanks Perynne!
I tried another B&W sketch for a study break, this time using omen's monk and a pose from Raven's workshop, but I'm not liking it as much
I think the pic of Mina was a fluke or maybe it's because I was working off a face shot instead of a full body shot, because this one makes me feel like I'm regressing :/
EDIT: Played around with adding colors and it didn't come out too badly...
EEP, close-up shows all the mess around the borders I need to clean up
I tried another B&W sketch for a study break, this time using omen's monk and a pose from Raven's workshop, but I'm not liking it as much
I think the pic of Mina was a fluke or maybe it's because I was working off a face shot instead of a full body shot, because this one makes me feel like I'm regressing :/EDIT: Played around with adding colors and it didn't come out too badly...
EEP, close-up shows all the mess around the borders I need to clean up
frostkisses
Raven's mesmer looks great. The monk doesnt look like youre regressing, but I think the face looks a little too chubby...like she doesnt have a neck. or at this point the piece isnt "worked on" enough to give it some sort of ratio to the body. keep working at it. still looks nice thistle
Perynne
Don't be too afraid of regressing, not every artwork can be brilliant. There's a saying that if an artist does 100 drawings, only one of them will be a masterpiece.
The only way you will learn is by drawing, and this includes even the difficult parts. :P
There's a saying that if an artist does 100 drawings, only one of them will be a masterpiece. The only way you will learn is by drawing, and this includes even the difficult parts. :P
Ravenhawk
I think it looks fine so far, the head just seems a little too big from the rest of her body. Perynne is right, I still regress once in awhile (and I got hit by it recently too) but from my experience, I tend to make better drawings right after a slump so don't let it scare you.
Thistle Xandra
Thanks, you three
There's something else that's off that I can't pinpoint what it is. I've looked at Omen's pic, and I can't figure out the little changes I need to make to the face to match Tessa I think I'll restart and see if I can get a similar headshot or something and see if I can get a better result off of that I liked the sketch of the body though so I'm going to keep that part.
Nov 21 EDIT:
Finally finished Murke's piece for our art trade! Yay! Hope you like it! This was so much fun and I learned so much from it
Title: Hellhounds Get Separation Anxiety, Too!
Because anyone with a dog knows what I'm talking about
Quote:
Hey!There's something else that's off that I can't pinpoint what it is. I've looked at Omen's pic, and I can't figure out the little changes I need to make to the face to match Tessa
I think I'll restart and see if I can get a similar headshot or something and see if I can get a better result off of that I liked the sketch of the body though so I'm going to keep that part.Nov 21 EDIT:
Finally finished Murke's piece for our art trade! Yay! Hope you like it! This was so much fun and I learned so much from it
Title: Hellhounds Get Separation Anxiety, Too!
Because anyone with a dog knows what I'm talking about
Quote:
This is Murke.
I'm not sure which of her armors is easier to draw, so you can pick whichever.
http://yfrog.com/f7murkescreens1j
http://yfrog.com/3dmurkescreens2j
As for her hair...it no longer looks like that. She's also rather silly despite this picture. Now it looks like this: http://kalinotora.deviantart.com/#/d2v2bpn
But you don't have to worry about getting to it any time soon. ^.^ Thank you so much for wanting to do an art trade!
Nov 22 EDIT:
Decided to restart Omen's B/W sketch. A lot happier with this version
Quote:
You could try my monk.
Another EDIT:
Attempted to color the BW sketch. Coloring a BW sketch is a lot harder than I thought it would be Still got a lot to learn
Attempted to color the BW sketch. Coloring a BW sketch is a lot harder than I thought it would be
Still got a lot to learn
Thistle Xandra
OK, been told by a loving source that my BW & color drawings of Omen's monk are actually quite horrendous and I should lay off of BW for a while So, trying to go back to lineart and see if I can improve on that for Araiia's assassin. This is the base sketch, next up is lineart
So, trying to go back to lineart and see if I can improve on that for Araiia's assassin. This is the base sketch, next up is lineart
Perynne
I didn't think they were horrendous. I think you just need to practice the colouring. Use a new layer with the layer mode set to "Colour" so you can always erase and change colours without affecting the original greyscale. Also, doing tweaks with two additional layers - one set to "Burn", the other to "Dodge"- will let you make new highlights and shadows without affecting the original greyscale as well.
Nobody is perfect when they start out, it does take a bit of practice.
Sketch of the assassin is looking good!
Also, doing tweaks with two additional layers - one set to "Burn", the other to "Dodge"- will let you make new highlights and shadows without affecting the original greyscale as well. Nobody is perfect when they start out, it does take a bit of practice.
Sketch of the assassin is looking good!
Thistle Xandra
Thanks for the tips, Perry It was actually quite amazing how no matter what settings I messed with, the colored version just came out so bad for Omen's monk D: I think it's because I wasn't thinking of how to color it and so didn't sketch out the grayscale right. For the sin pic, I decided to do the colored version first (without shading) THEN do the greyscale on top and I think it worked out a lot better. I still need to figure out how to use those modes better though :/ I did color burn with this one. I'll have to see what I can do with "dodge" next time
It was actually quite amazing how no matter what settings I messed with, the colored version just came out so bad for Omen's monk D: I think it's because I wasn't thinking of how to color it and so didn't sketch out the grayscale right. For the sin pic, I decided to do the colored version first (without shading) THEN do the greyscale on top and I think it worked out a lot better. I still need to figure out how to use those modes better though :/ I did color burn with this one. I'll have to see what I can do with "dodge" next time
frostkisses
aww its cute thistle! ^^
practice makes perfect,keep trying and im sure you'll be doing amazing things soon.
practice makes perfect,keep trying and im sure you'll be doing amazing things soon.
Thistle Xandra
thanks frost I hope so! I'm having so much fun drawing, but it would be so cool to get some really amazing stuff to pop up
I hope so! I'm having so much fun drawing, but it would be so cool to get some really amazing stuff to pop up
InfestedHydralisk
The Assassin is very well done.
Tommy's
Quote:
Originally Posted by frostkisses
practice makes perfect,keep trying and im sure you'll be doing amazing things soon.
This. You improve really quickly. Great work, keep rocking ^^
Ravenhawk
Looks great Thistle! Keep it up!
Aeronwen
I like that sin Thistle, she has kind eyes
Thistle Xandra
Thanks for the support, all
I decided to give another line-free painting attempt. This time, used a dodge layer for highlights and a color burn layer for shading.
This one's of my monk since I wanted to update my avatar
I decided to give another line-free painting attempt. This time, used a dodge layer for highlights and a color burn layer for shading.
This one's of my monk since I wanted to update my avatar
Perynne
Dodge and burn is fun to play with. However, try not to rely solely on it, because you can always tell when only dodge/burn has been used on a painting (the shadows never vary their colours, and highlights are always white instead of colours). Shadows always have other shades in them, not just a variation of the skin tone, and same goes for highlights. For example: http://fav.me/d2efaai and http://fav.me/dk41bc (two good skin colour charts from DeviantArt).
So yeah, the short version is that dodge/burn works great for greyscale drawings where you don't need to worry about colour (and as such you can use them to tweak the greyscale drawing during the colouring process of it), but can make a colour drawing look flat and lifeless if you're not careful.
As practice, you should perhaps try doing a drawing with really, really strong light and shadows, where the shadows are blue-purple and the light is yellowish-orange. I've noticed that it helps to learn new things sometimes when you completely go overboard with what you're learning.
The monk is looking awesome though. I loooove the contrast of the bright blue with her skin, and she looks so happy too. Her hair also looks more detailed than what you usually do.
If you're still doing commissions, I'd be interested in having my dervish Cassia drawn:
So yeah, the short version is that dodge/burn works great for greyscale drawings where you don't need to worry about colour (and as such you can use them to tweak the greyscale drawing during the colouring process of it), but can make a colour drawing look flat and lifeless if you're not careful.
As practice, you should perhaps try doing a drawing with really, really strong light and shadows, where the shadows are blue-purple and the light is yellowish-orange. I've noticed that it helps to learn new things sometimes when you completely go overboard with what you're learning.
The monk is looking awesome though.
I loooove the contrast of the bright blue with her skin, and she looks so happy too. Her hair also looks more detailed than what you usually do.If you're still doing commissions, I'd be interested in having my dervish Cassia drawn:
Tommy's
I, like Pery said, wouldn't use burn and dodge too much. I only sometimes use it on like gems or golden ornaments in an armor, to give them some shine. Other then that, I would not use the burn and dodge tool. As for the face colour. Yes alot more contrast might be nice. But I think thats for later, better first get the hand of using the brushes and quickly getting shapes down.
Eastern Magik
i wanted to post this yesterday, but since my friends on DA were missing for a couple of hours...
Anyway, im not really an expert when it comes to coloring gray-scale pictures, but perhaps those video tutorials will help you
http://herodees.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d31nzze
http://kaizendesign.deviantart.com/a...ndesign&qo= 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMH6CYLZ6v8
http://aquasixio.deviantart.com/art/...2F8808807&qo=2
http://aquasixio.deviantart.com/art/...F8808807&qo=10
http://aquasixio.deviantart.com/gallery/8808807#/dgtp1x
^not video, but you can find a lot of useful advices
Anyway, im not really an expert when it comes to coloring gray-scale pictures, but perhaps those video tutorials will help you
http://herodees.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d31nzze
http://kaizendesign.deviantart.com/a...ndesign&qo= 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMH6CYLZ6v8
http://aquasixio.deviantart.com/art/...2F8808807&qo=2
http://aquasixio.deviantart.com/art/...F8808807&qo=10
http://aquasixio.deviantart.com/gallery/8808807#/dgtp1x
^not video, but you can find a lot of useful advices
Aeronwen
lovely picture, I like the colours.
Thistle Xandra
Thanks so much for the tips I really am in love with color burn though, I think it's because I don't really understand shading and coloring so color burn makes it soooo easy to see how I want the picture to come out! Pery, that color swatch tutorial is amazing, thanks for pointing that out for me. It'll really help me figure out coloring more so I don't have to rely on burn mode. Thanks, Magik for those links, too I haven't had a chance to watch the vids yet, but the DA links are so helpful! Those tutorials are amazing!
Oh, and I'll add Cassia as my third model, thanks for the screenies
Verene, sorry, I gave up on the other one and decided to do a different pose! Here's a super rough sketch so you can see I haven't forgotten about you <3
I like to think she's fierce in this one and about to kick someone's butt. Haven't figured out if I'll line art this or try line-free painting with the new tips. I originally had a hissing lynx in the background, but I was lovingly told that it looked like a freaky Hannibal Lector cat
I really am in love with color burn though, I think it's because I don't really understand shading and coloring so color burn makes it soooo easy to see how I want the picture to come out! Pery, that color swatch tutorial is amazing, thanks for pointing that out for me. It'll really help me figure out coloring more so I don't have to rely on burn mode. Thanks, Magik for those links, too I haven't had a chance to watch the vids yet, but the DA links are so helpful! Those tutorials are amazing!Oh, and I'll add Cassia as my third model, thanks for the screenies
Verene, sorry, I gave up on the other one
and decided to do a different pose! Here's a super rough sketch so you can see I haven't forgotten about you <3I like to think she's fierce in this one and about to kick someone's butt. Haven't figured out if I'll line art this or try line-free painting with the new tips. I originally had a hissing lynx in the background, but I was lovingly told that it looked like a freaky Hannibal Lector cat
Verene
That pose is awesome <3
Thistle Xandra
Glad you like it
This is what I have so far for you... still have a long way to go! Curly/wavy hair is so hard to do D: I'll finish it off last I think
This is what I have so far for you... still have a long way to go! Curly/wavy hair is so hard to do D: I'll finish it off last I think
Perynne
The wavy hair is looking good so far. To finish off the illusion of wavy hair, you might want to draw a few, thick individual strands that kind of fight against the wave, to wave against it so to speak. It'll help give the hair a more natural feel.
I love the face and the way you've used stronger shading in it! Good work!
To finish off the illusion of wavy hair, you might want to draw a few, thick individual strands that kind of fight against the wave, to wave against it so to speak. It'll help give the hair a more natural feel.I love the face and the way you've used stronger shading in it! Good work!
Charlie Dayman
Don't be afraid to experiment and really familiarize yourself with the brush settings. That menu alone is probably one of the most significant tools in Photoshop, IMO 
Ravenhawk
Love that pose Thistle. It's really captivating. As for the hair, here's a simple hair tutorial that I got. I think the person is using SAI as a tool but you can grasp the general steps he/she did - which is just three step process. I don't follow any particular tutorial for hair anymore for the longest time..I just have an idea on the steps pretty much. It's always fun to experiment.
http://leejun35.deviantart.com/art/H...hair-156271917
http://leejun35.deviantart.com/art/H...hair-156271917
Thistle Xandra
Thanks, Pery! In case you couldn't tell, I'm using one of the color palettes in that link you gave It's so helpful!
omg, charlie, there really are so many brush options I'm using Elements though, so there are some options I can't change that some tutorials with CS2+ talk about like brush flow. I usually just stick to soft and hard circle brushes and sometimes venture off to the natural brushes.
Thanks, Raven! I love that link The problem I'm having is that a lot of tutorials talk about straight hair instead of wavy/curly. I downloaded a non-DA tutorial so I'll see how that one works. Seems like hair is just really hard to draw and will take time.
It's so helpful!omg, charlie, there really are so many brush options
I'm using Elements though, so there are some options I can't change that some tutorials with CS2+ talk about like brush flow. I usually just stick to soft and hard circle brushes and sometimes venture off to the natural brushes.Thanks, Raven! I love that link
The problem I'm having is that a lot of tutorials talk about straight hair instead of wavy/curly. I downloaded a non-DA tutorial so I'll see how that one works. Seems like hair is just really hard to draw and will take time.
GeminiJuSa
I really like to see how fast you're progressing! One can tell you're learning a lot in every new piece you make
Verene
http://foxbane.deviantart.com/art/Tu...in-PS-39739048
http://rach-resources.deviantart.com...orial-78726124
Try taking a look at those tutorials if you're having trouble with curls, Thistle.
http://rach-resources.deviantart.com...orial-78726124
Try taking a look at those tutorials if you're having trouble with curls, Thistle.